XQuery.com Launched by DataDirect Technologies

BEDFORD, Mass. � Dec. 5, 2006 � DataDirect Technologies, the unparalleled leader in data connectivity and mainframe integration and an operating company of Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq: PRGS), today announced the launch of XQuery.com. The Web site provides software developers and IT architects with a comprehensive resource for navigating the complexity of today�s application architectures via the power of XQuery � the XML Query Language under development by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Bringing to market the DataDirect XQuery� product, an embeddable, database-independent component for processing and aggregating XML, relational data, SOAP messages, EDI or a combination of data sources, has established DataDirect Technologies as a market driver and industry leader in XQuery technology and adoption. XQuery.com is a testament to DataDirect Technologies� unwavering commitment to the XQuery language and desire to provide users and prospects with the knowledge needed to overcome challenges with their data integration and service-oriented architecture (SOA) projects.

�With the W3C XQuery Standard fast approaching Recommendation status, we wanted to offer the software developer community a one-stop destination for obtaining the most relevant XQuery information and how-to advice from recognized XML and XQuery experts,� said Robert Evelyn, general manager of the XML business line at DataDirect Technologies. �We have achieved this goal with XQuery.com and hope the site will be embraced by XQuery users to further promote the advantages of this breakthrough technology for data integration.�

The DataDirect XQuery product provides fast, reliable and scalable XQuery support for all major relational databases and runs on any JavaTM platform. The standards-based software product enables Java developers to access XML, relational data, SOAP messages, EDI, or a combination of data sources using a single XQuery. This significantly simplifies data management and integration in heterogeneous environments and enables developers to build high-performance applications more quickly and efficiently. Last month, the DataDirect XQuery product successfully completed the W3C XML Query Test Suite (XQTS), achieving greater than 99 percent compliance and was the first product with specialized relational support to post results.

DataDirect Technologies will be at the XML 2006 Conference in Boston, Dec. 5-7, booth #12 and as a featured vendor during PechaKucha Night, Dec. 5 from 7:00 p.m.�9:00 p.m. Jonathan Robie, XQuery Technology Lead at DataDirect Technologies, member of the W3C XQuery Working Group, a lead designer of XQuery and an editor of many of the specifications that define the language will present, �An XQuery Servlet for RESTful Data Services,� on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

B]About DataDirect Technologies[/B] DataDirect Technologies is the software industry�s only comprehensive provider of software for connecting the world�s most critical business applications to data and services, running on any platform, using proven and emerging standards. Developers worldwide depend on DataDirect� products to connect their applications to an unparalleled range of data sources using standards-based interfaces such as ODBC, JDBC� and ADO.NET, XQuery and SOAP. More than 300 leading independent software vendors and thousands of enterprises rely on DataDirect Technologies to simplify and streamline data connectivity for distributed systems and to reduce the complexity of mainframe integration. DataDirect Technologies is an operating company of Progress Software Corporation (Nasdaq: PRGS). For more information, visit http://www.datadirect.com.

DataDirect and DataDirect XQuery are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Java and all Java based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.